The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-20


hot brick. Stands to reason he's foolin'
the girl. Everybody knows he's sweet on
Miss Elton. an she's got dollars to Becky
Peabody's dimes. You don't suppose Fol-
jamie means any thing but foolin' Becky,
do youi That's why he was SO liberal with
his money TO the widow. It's well enough
for you to stan up for him, an we know
why, but fax is fax"
And of went Cowan with his tobacco, In
triumph. 1t did not stop there. The news
spread, and spasm of virtuous indigna-
tion shook Brantford. II soon came to the
ears Of Foljambe himself. He had paid no
attention to the popular comment on his
purchases, but this was different matter.
He hunted up Bill Cowan and found him in
our shop, where he and some OF his cronies
were discussing the thing al the time.
mark you, Cowani" cried FoIjambe, his
eyes blazing in wrath, ''you have been talk
ing too freely about me in connection with
a young lady. II learn of your waggIng
that long tongue OF yours in the same way
again, or find you eavesdropping, I'll give
you pounding, and you know that 1 can do
it. Things have got to pretty pass in this
community when SANDER Is set afoot be-
cause some sneak sees one bestow caress
on a young lady whom he is TO marry within
a month. And I'll hold any other man who
NEEDLES with my affairs to strict account.
Here was q settler. Becky Peabody to
a Foljambel Why, the Fojambe's turn up
their noses at the country folk, and took
their wives from abroad. Gossip left the
rosin and cotton and took to the match.
But it was adniring and not offensive.
The wedd ing came off and was great
affair. Miss Elton was first bridesmaid,
and the gentleman she married afterward,
a Mr.. bennington, was Foljambe's best
man. There was a reception at the house
the young people took no tour but re-
manned at Fojambe Place-and /, of the
few Brantford folk invited, was there. So
was David Peabody, of course. He was
got up in Z suit of fine broadcloth, and his
shoes shone like a japanned waiter. Every
one knew this raiment came from the bride
groom. 0, of course! There were num-
Der of costly and elegant presents dis
played. But these came, with the excep-
ton of an odd-looliing japanese cabinet,
given By the Widow Peabody, from the
Foljambe friends and connections. Uncle
David examined them.
Betty" he said, loud enough to attract
attention, ''the Peabodys don't seem to
shine in the way of making gifts TO the
bride. Your Uncle David will have TO put
in his mite.n Then he drew bulky pack
age from his capacious breast-pocket, which
it fitted so tightly that he withdrew it with
difficulty.
80, thank you, Uncle David" said the
bride ANY thing from YOU"
"Open il, child"
The newly-made Mrs. Foljambe undid the
cord and removed the wrapping. 1t was
Russia leather covered casket, with the
letters r. P. F. on it. When she opened it
she gave one Cry of delight.
They are old mine stones" said Uncle
David quietly. "Don't drop that scrap of
paper. 1 don't want you to be running to
your husband for pocket money, and you'd
better invest the amount of that check for
yourself as he advises you"
This was a surprise. Few had seen such
a set-a necklace, bracelets, earrings and
of them quite large. They must have cost
enormously. Where did Uncle David get
the money!
found out before any one else. was
down in New York to purchase tea, and
Carlton, of the jobbing firm with which
did business, said to me:
David Peabody is rusticating at Brant-
ford, amt heE'
',Old Uncle David?" said. ayes, he is
a sort of hanger-on to his sister-in-law
She feeds him, fancy"
''Feeds himi What do you mean? David
Peabody could feed dozen sister-in-laws,
and not feel it.''
We'll" said, 81 recently began to sus-
pect he was rather wclloff."
n.
THAT'S the best joke out. David Peabody
well-offl Is it possible you don't know how
rich he isl But he hardly knows himself.
He has been for over eighteen years the
principal stockholder in a great Mexican
mine. 1t is an English company, and he
is the only American in it. But he owns
two-thirds OF it. Why, it is one of the most
successful mines in the country. Well of!
Why, he is ava up i'll the millions, and it
keeps pouring in.''
OF course this was too good to keep.
Brantford had the benefit of it, and, ex-
cotton, David's great wealth was the sub
ject for discussion and comment.
The civil war come and was going on, and
Foljambe and his follies faded before it.
At last in 1862 Foljambe's cotton began to
ingly, and Brantford found that there had
been method in tn, madness. But the
rosin, though it had risen too, remained
undisturbed. At length, 1 think it was in
August, 1853, three hundred barrels of the
rosin were shipped 10 Boston. The next
day one hundred and fifty went to Phia-
delphia and hundred to Baltimore The
next day three hundred were sent to New
York. And so it continued to move, some
times in smaller, sometimes in larger guam
titles, until by the latter part of November
every barrel was gone. took up the price
current and ran over the file for the quota
tons on naval stores. To my surprise the
price had varied from August to y November
from twenty-five to forty-four dollars per
barrel. And then it went down below the
first figure. Foljambs had stocked the
market.
There was little talk about Foljambe's
follies after that in Brantford. On the
contrary, the Brantford people admired the
shrewdness of Fool Jim," and that name
dropped. Well they might admire him.
He and Uncle David between them have
built up the place, which has dou bled in
population and is thriving in every way.
AS for Foljambe himself, he Is very quiet
for man so immensely rich. Beyond
years visit TO Europe, and two or three
months travel every year TO some part OF
the country, ne stays principally on the
Foljambc place, where he has enlarged the
old mansion and dcvotes himself 20 his
family. Rebccca Foljambe is as handsome
think as ever, though more plump than
she used to be. They appear to be as fond
of each other as ever, and 1 dare say that
they are.
One day, when he dropped into the shop,
happened to say something complim entary
~ hiS forasirht He launhe1